Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-02
Thc CoastitutIonal convention.


SussHX journal.
The first steps in that organization so
necessary to the success of the reform
movement in the approaching election
have been taken in Georgetown, Little
Creek and Broad Greek hundreds, oil Of
which will give overwhelming majorities
in favor Of convention if the matter is
pressed with half the vigor that is dis.
played ut tho general elections in this
State. And what renspns are there for not
pressing it with not only half, but all yea
double the yigor of general election
Is there not ms much Mt stake3 Is the
privilege of voting on tile question of a
convention such common thing and our
old constitution such perfect instrument
that the coming election should be
| passed by with contempt without
| organization, without effort, without
discussion, and without vote?
! The people of Georgetown, Little Greek
and Broad Greek have answered big No
TO all OF these questions and il is to be
hoped that the echols of that No will be
taken mp by the people of every hundred
in old Sussex and that its laundering
tones will wake up the inhabitants of old
Kent and cause a mighty rattling among
the dry bones OF New Castle. For there
/ is more in this question than the mere de-
Gliding whether We shall or shall not have
| n cons titutional whether we
10 or do not want n new constitution, al
though we nll know that that simple
issue is enough to bring ont every voter
in the State. The people Of Delaware
will decide on the second Tuesday OF
next November whether they have 0
proper appreciation Of the right of suf.
frage whether the ballot in their case
has been put into feeble or into
strong hands; whether they know how
to use it to their own good; whether
they can accomplish their own purposes
and thor own desires through its agency
whether, in short, popular government il
Delaware is q reality or farce. ALI these
questions will be determined by the sizt
of the vote TO he ritst next November III,
character OF thn vote has already beer
determined There is no mistaking thu
direction of the popular current. Tn,
only question is shall it be wide enough
deep enough aud strong enough to breal
down the barriers Of the old constitution
and sweep into the great ocean Of pas
! and forgotten things, all the false l,rncj
pies, and all the exclusive and centraliz
l ing tendencies that characterize its mos
| important provisions. This being tn
question tho importance If fun vot
: will be seen nj once; for it matters no
y which way THE current is tending II it L
4 not sttnnf enough Tor practical purposes
. il matters not that tho people hay
Tie ballot ii they cannot us
% If TO accomplish their own wills
" it matters not that we are reformers i
principle if we are not Teformers in prat
tiee il matters not that we have popuia
10 government if popular government cal
not be made to express the popular will
:" it matters not that Delaware is reform
~ outline, reform in substance, reform
D. feature, reform throughout all her par
IA il she is dead if she is powerless to ii
so much AS her little finger TO remove Il
~ burden that is resting so heavily upC
ce her. Faith without work is dead. III
lis ballot without the will the energy M
!. the courage to use it is a curse. II
- question then is not, how shall we use
90 next November but, shall we use it.
Id il is used ut all it will be used TO bril-
o about a convention. The voters W
y take care of themselves il we only 2
them out.